Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Memorial Service (3)

I added some makeup to the pale face. I erased the obvious signs of illness and added a healthy glow.

The recreated image looked exactly like the woman in front of me.

“Ehhh?!”

Baek Hwa-ran, awakened from a long sleep. I met her in the bustling streets of Beijing. It was an incredible coincidence.

For someone who had been in a deep sleep for 10 years, her complexion was good. Her breathing was also much more stable. It seemed the sturdy bloodline of the Baek family had shown its resilience.

“Hwa-ran!”

Seo Eun-ha and Baek Hwa-ran. The two childhood friends embraced each other. It was a heartwarming reunion.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Isaac.”

A young man who inherited the spirit of the Sword Emperor stood behind Baek Hwa-ran. It was Baek Pung-young, the eldest son of the Baek family.

Baek Nam-gi and Baek So-hye, who had become A-rank heroes in the second half of the year, were also with him. The bloodline of the Baek family had gathered in one place.

“So, are you on a mission?”

“Yes, we are. I should have come to greet you earlier. It was my oversight for not recognizing you.”

He was disciplined and upright. Befitting the next head of the Baek family. Isaac liked his polite demeanor.

“No need for formalities.”

Somehow, I had run into the children of the Baek family.

Since we’ve met, it might be worth interacting with them.

“More importantly, what’s the content of your mission?”

“It’s to investigate the truth behind the mass mental contamination incident and eliminate the root cause. Numerous disasters, both big and small, have been occurring continuously in the central region of China. We’re carrying out several similar missions simultaneously.”

China was facing a crisis of national subversion.

South Korean heroes had stepped up to ensure the safety of civilians in the neighboring country.

Isaac asked.

“I’d like to see the mission brief you’ve been assigned.”

“Yes. Here it is.”

Zing.

A hologram screen was projected in mid-air.

〈Purification of Anomalous Phenomenon〉

▷ Scale: Grade 1

▷ Content: On August 20th, XX year. An incident occurred where citizens from various social strata across Beijing were collectively mentally contaminated.

Guide the mentally contaminated citizens to the authorities and swiftly eliminate the root cause of the anomalous phenomenon.

‘It’s still uncertain, just the same.’

The reasons for mental contamination are diverse.

It could be due to evil spirits, or it could be the aftermath of negative energy emitted by an army of demons.

Even without anomalous phenomena, humans often break down. Bullying, investment failures, and unemployment are typical root causes of mental contamination.

“Were there any peculiarities?”

The fear and despair from two consecutive apocalyptic disasters must have eaten away at the minds of Beijing’s citizens. That alone could cause large-scale mental contamination.

In other words, it might not be a matter that requires dispatching heroes separately.

“There were. Lately, scammers have been rampant all over China. They’re selling ordinary items as protective magical engineering products, or passing off unconsecrated crosses and distilled water as holy relics.”

“Which means?”

“It’s an ideal environment for villain groups to maliciously spread specific items throughout society. That’s how I see it.”

It’s a world where one’s life could be lost at any moment.

The country’s public safety has collapsed, and a notion of every man for himself has formed at the base of society.

‘So the response to fear is accelerating the collapse of the system.’

It’s a tragic contradiction.

Whether it’s magical engineering equipment or religious rituals, civilians who have experienced large-scale disasters want to rely on something.

As Baek Pung-young said, it was an environment ripe for villains to run wild.

People pushed to the brink want to grasp at straws. Even if those straws might be poisonous weeds.

‘He seems quite smart. Maybe I can reduce some tedious work.’

I came here wanting to spend time with the team members. It felt like I could reestablish the precious values I had been missing.

‘But tedious things are still tedious.’

With intelligence agents and the advance team having vanished, missions starting from the investigation stage were all about time reduction. That’s how additional casualties could be prevented.

“From this moment on, you and we will share a communication channel. Our mission is similar in context. We’re viewing the villain forces disguised as civilian religious operators as the root cause of the anomalous phenomena.”

“I see! Then we should start by digging into religious facilities.”

Baek Pung-young was inwardly impressed.

The world’s only SS-rank hero, famous for being difficult to move, had volunteered for service without any compensation.

He seemed cold and ruthless on the outside, but his actions demonstrated love for humanity. It made the public’s assessment that his humanity had been eroded seem unfounded.

‘A joint operation with Isaac!’

He had finally reached 5 stars, breaking through the wall of 4 stars.

And right away, he got to work together with the world’s strongest hero. It felt like he was flying in the sky.

“The Murim Alliance will sort out the information for us. Let’s wait for their contact.”

“Yes! I look forward to working with you!”

Baek Pung-young was on high alert.

====

***

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Waiting for an hour at the cafe.

The cafe was located in the heart of the city where the residences of missing persons and mentally contaminated individuals were evenly distributed, at 9 Jiangtai West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

Leaving the Baek family children and team members to get acquainted, Isaac spread his energy widely.

Swoosh―

The energy, at the peak of 5 stars, extended for tens of kilometers in all directions.

Murmur murmur.

Beep beep beep―

There are many people. Many cars too. Various sounds intertwine to create a noise like a battlefield.

Zap.

Isaac frowned as his head became overloaded. There was too much information.

Swoosh.

He finely adjusted his energy. The amount of information immediately decreased. The target was only negative energy.

Isaac’s world, with his eyes closed, soon faded to white. The outlines of people, buildings, and cars became faint.

Even traces of wind and trees disappeared, leaving everything white.

‘This much is normal.’

Black stems appeared in the pure white world. The few black stems multiplied exponentially.

They were negative energies. Minus emotions emanating from wounded hearts.

Regrettably, these weren’t villains or evil spirits. They were all ordinary civilians.

The black stems were like tumors that modern people carry in a corner of their hearts. Precarious, but not dangerous.

Screech.

‘That’s…’

But that was different. Ink black was drawn on a white canvas.

It’s clearly an anomaly. Too thick. It’s as if a black vortex is welling up.

‘I got lucky.’

Maybe I can skip the troublesome process.

Boom!

15km to the northeast.

Another disturbing energy was detected.

It’s a faint gray color. Not black. But it’s big. And it disappeared as soon as it was created.

‘This one is more suspicious.’

It was similar to negative energy, yet different. It looked like a white veil forcibly overlaid on a black color.

Whoosh―

The energy was withdrawn.

Isaac opened his eyes.

The world regained its various colors again.

‘First, I’ll confirm what it was.’

Swish.

Isaac’s form disappeared into the shadows.

The shadow flowed under the elevated road, from the elevated road to the parking lot of a department store with its back to the sun, and from the shaded parking lot to a secluded alley.

It was a spatial leap using the combat skill ‘King of Shadows’.

‘A park?’

Whoosh―

Once again, he spread his energy.

No negative energy is detected anywhere.

There’s a small park on the high hill. Elderly people exercising with equipment and children playing around.

It’s a scene far from any strange phenomenon. Except for one person.

‘That guy is.’

A blond Westerner was painting. A beautiful landscape reflecting the area below the hill was adding colors to the white canvas.

Isaac communicated.

―A disaster-level negative energy has been detected. From now on, I’ll classify the Harmony Clan as Team A and the Cheoncheon Baekga Family as Team B. Teams A and B, search Changping District New Ganxian Jiayuan Section 4, Block 2-1.

It was the address where the black vortex-shaped negative energy was detected. He would cover this place himself, while the heroes would cover the other locations.

That was Isaac’s judgment.

【Information Window】

▶ Name: Specter, the Painter of Fear

▶ Level: 90

▶ Classification: Villain

▶ Mutations: [Delusion Realization Lv.5][Artisan Lv.3][Pacifist Lv.10]

▶ Skills: [Drawing][Painting]

Specter.

A bishop-level executive of DRR and a realization-type ability user. He would be quite troublesome if you didn’t know how to deal with him.

‘Just need to get rid of his painting tools.’

Specter’s paintings become reality. Therefore, subdue him before he can paint.

The guy was busy painting, unaware of anything. His physical abilities were at the level of an ordinary person. If he could be subdued before activating his skills, he’d be an easier opponent than most mutant-class monsters.

‘Remove the disguise. Openly surprise him.’

Swish.

Isaac, who had removed his disguise, approached slightly and opened his mouth.

“You. Are you a painter?”

“Huh? You mean me?”

The villain, Specter, pointed at himself with his finger.

Thump thump.

Specter’s heart raced as he faced Isaac.

The opponent is the SS-class hero, Isaac. An irregular who dissolved DRR just by existing.

He’s truly a near-perfect subject.

‘How did he…? More importantly, did he recognize my identity? I can only hope it’s a coincidence.’

Specter’s face was unknown to the world. His negative energy is also completely blocked by the mutation ‘Pacifist’.

A villain who doesn’t seem like a villain. A villain whose villainy can’t even be detected. That’s why he had lived as the world’s best assassin and painter.

Specter answered innocently.

“It’s embarrassing, but yes. That’s right. Hehe.”

“I see. If possible, could you paint my portrait? I’ll pay you for it.”

It was a request that hit the mark.

The moment he paints a new picture, he loses control over the previous one.

It’s unbelievable, but the opponent has figured out his ability. A strong conviction and survival instinct enveloped Specter.

‘I don’t know how he found out, but.’

Right now, surviving is what’s important.

“Ah! A portrait. But I’m in the middle of painting a landscape right now. It might be difficult at the moment. I’m sorry.”

Swish―

Specter’s brush moved.

It was a lightning-fast motion.

Whoosh―

“……!”

He tried to activate his ability.

However, the canvas that should have held the landscape was soiled. As if it had been a black canvas from the start, red paint colored the writhing darkness.

He couldn’t even recognize when he had done such a thing.

‘Not yet, not yet.’

Although the landscape is covered in darkness, he still has control over the painting.

Specter spoke as if lamenting.

“Ugh, how on earth did you know?”

“Follow me and I’ll tell you. If you don’t want to die, keep quiet for now.”

“Ah, this isn’t right. This kind of end isn’t artistic at all. Hey, can’t you remove this dark stuff? You’re strong, right? Even if you give me a chance, you’ll win anyway.”

A unique psychopath.

But Specter’s ability is too useful to kill him right away.

Crack!

The shadow bound Specter.

With both hands restrained, he couldn’t even wield his brush. It was a silent pressure telling him not to talk nonsense.

“Sigh, then there’s no choice. I’ll have to solve this on my own.”

─────────

It was the moment Specter’s muttering ended. His vision went dark. He couldn’t see anything. His five senses were paralyzed. It felt like being engulfed in the abyss of nothingness.

‘Did he perceive the shadow as black paint?’

Crack!

He wrapped his entire body in hardening. An unprecedented pressure was felt throughout his body.

However, Specter’s level is 90. No matter what he does to the painting, the power of the skill cannot exceed the limits of the technique deployer.

Whoosh―

Isaac activated the King of Shadows.

The black swamp pushed away the pitch darkness.

“……This is ridiculous.”

Rumble―

The identity of the pitch darkness was water.

This seemed to be the deep sea where no light enters. This was why Specter’s ability was so troublesome.

He does outrageous things with his paintings. Although his combat power itself isn’t much, the range of application for his skills is wide.

“Noah, where is this?”

―This is a point 11,000m deep in the Mariana Trench on Earth.

This seemed to be the most dangerous environment Specter’s ability could send them to.

If they had been pushed into the far reaches of outer space, their lives might have been in danger.

Isaac sighed and said.

“Noah. Take us back to Beijing.”

Whoosh!